Hat or visor with magnetic inserts

ABSTRACT

A hat or visor incorporates magnetic inserts that secure various attachments. The hat includes a crown, a bill secured to the crown, and a plurality of magnets embedded in the bill across a width of the bill. Exemplary attachments may include lights, fishing gear, tools and the like.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/596,182, filed Dec. 8, 2017 the entire content of which is herein incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

(NOT APPLICABLE)

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to headwear and, more particularly, to headwear such as a baseball- or golf-style hat or visor that incorporates magnetic inserts for securing various attachments.

In certain circumstances, it may be desirable to secure various items to headwear while keeping the wearer's hands free. It is difficult, however, to secure such items to caps, hats or visors due the material of the headwear and other factors.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A baseball- or golf-style hat or visor may be provided with magnets for securing various attachments. In an exemplary embodiment, there may be several magnets embedded in the visor or bill section of the hat. In one construction, holes may be drilled into the visor or bill section of the hat prior to installing the hat fabric over the bill. The holes generally correspond to the size of the magnets. The magnets are inserted into the holes and held in place with an adhesive tape or the like. Subsequently, the bill fabric will be installed by sewing or the like around each magnet to further secure and embed the magnets in the hat. The adhesive tape or other securing mechanism serves to hold the magnets in place until the sewing occurs and also protects against moisture that could cause the magnets to rust.

In an exemplary embodiment, a hat includes a crown, a bill secured to the crown, and a plurality of magnets embedded in the bill across a width of the bill. The bill may include a base material covered with a fabric material, wherein the base material is provided with a plurality of holes therein that correspond in number and size to the plurality of magnets. The magnets may be positioned in the holes. The fabric material may cover the base material and the plurality of magnets. Each of the plurality of magnets may be sewn in position through the fabric material. The plurality of magnets may be positioned in the bill adjacent the crown. In some embodiments, the magnets may be ⅝ inch diameter neodymium magnets.

In another exemplary embodiment, a hat includes a crown and a bill secured to the crown that defines a border between the crown and the bill. The bill may include a base material covered with a fabric material and including a plurality of holes in the base material across a width thereof adjacent the border. A plurality of magnets may be positioned in the holes and embedded within the fabric material.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, a method of manufacturing a hat includes the steps of (a) assembling a crown; (b) securing a bill to the crown; and (c) embedding a plurality of magnets in the bill across a width of the bill. The method may also include assembling the bill using a base material and covering the base material with a fabric material, where step (c) may be practiced prior to covering the base material by forming holes in the base material and positioning the magnets in the holes. The step of positioning the magnets in the holes may be practiced by initially securing the magnets in the holes with an adhesive tape. The step of positioning the magnets in the holes may be further practiced by, after securing the magnets in the holes with the adhesive tape, sewing the fabric material around each of the magnets. The step of forming holes in the base material may include forming five holes in the base material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects and advantages will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exemplary hat or visor incorporating magnets in the bill;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the bill;

FIG. 3 shows an alternative configuration with a beanie-style hat;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the hat shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 shows a patch with embedded magnets secured to the hat shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary baseball- or golf-style hat or visor 10 according to the described embodiments. In the present description, use of the term “hat” is intended to encompass hats and/or visors and the like. The hat 10 generally includes a crown 12 and a bill 14 secured to the crown 12. In a visor, the “crown” 12 is the portion to which the bill 14 is attached that generally rests against the wearer's forehead. The seam or connection between the bill 14 and the crown 12 and defines a border 15 between the crown 12 and the bill 14.

A plurality of magnets 16 are embedded in the bill 14 substantially across a width of the bill 14. That is, in some embodiments, the magnets 16 are spread across a majority of the width of the bill 14.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the bill 14 and one of the magnets 16 in the bill 14. The bill 14 includes a base material 18 covered with a fabric material 20. The base material 18 can be formed of plastic or any other known material for the intended purpose. In some embodiments, the bill 14 may be formed of two pieces including a stiffener such as plastic in the center. The base material 18 is provided with a plurality of holes 22 that correspond in number and size to the plurality of magnets 16. The magnets 16 are positioned in the holes 22. The fabric material 20 covers the base material 18 and the plurality of magnets 16 to thereby embed the magnets 16 in the bill 14. Preferably, each of the plurality of magnets 16 may be sewn in position through the fabric material 20.

As shown, the plurality of holes 22 and magnets 16 are preferably strategically located close to where the bill 14 attaches to the crown 12, adjacent the border 15. That is, the holes 22 are formed closer to the border 15 than a distal end of the bill 14. This construction supports better weight distribution for the weight of the magnets and any attachments.

In an exemplary construction, five holes 22 are formed in the base material 18. The magnets 16 may be ⅝″ inch diameter neodymium magnets.

In manufacturing the hat 10, the crown 12 is assembled, and the bill 14 is secured to the crown 12 by sewing or the like. The bill 14 is generally assembled with the base material 18 covered with the fabric material 20. The holes 22 are formed in the base material 18 by drilling or the like, prior to covering the base material 18 with the fabric material 20. The magnets 16 are positioned in the holes 22 and initially secured with an adhesive tape or the like. That is, pieces of tape may be positioned covering the holes from above or below the bill 14 or both to initially secure the magnets 16. Alternatively or additionally, the magnets 16 and the holes 22 may be correspondingly sized such that the magnets 16 may initially be press fit into the holes 22 and held by friction. Subsequently, the fabric material 20 is sewn over the bill 14, and the fabric material 20 is sewn around each of the magnets 16.

In an alternative construction, patches 24 may be used to embed the magnets 16 in the bill 14. In this variation, the holes 22 may be formed before or after installation of the fabric material 20. The patches 24 may be secured with an adhesive or sewn or the like on both sides of the bill 14 over/under each of the magnets 16 to secure the magnets 16 in place.

FIGS. 3-5 show an alternative configuration applied to a beanie-style hat 30. The hat 30 includes a crown 32 and a brim 34. A first patch 36 is sewn onto a front portion of the brim 34, and a second patch 38 is sewn onto a rear portion of the brim 34. Each of the patches 36, 38 includes one or more magnets 40 embedded therein. In some embodiments, the first patch 36 may include five magnets 40, and the second patch 38 may include only one magnet 40.

The patches 36, 38 may be formed in two layers with the magnets 40 positioned between the layers and secured by sewing around a periphery. See, for example, sew line 42 in FIG. 6 around each of the magnets 40. With the magnets 40 secured, the patches 36, 38 may be secured to the hat brim 34 by sewing or the like. Alternatively, the patches may be formed of a single later of material that is positioned over the magnets 40 and over the brim 34 and sewn in place.

With the magnets embedded in the bill 14 of the hat 10, various attachments may be secured to the hat 10 while keeping the wearer's hands free. Exemplary attachments include small flashlights, small novelty lights in multiple colors, fishing gear such as flies, hooks and lures or carpentry attachment items like wood screws and nails. Another possible application is for an auto mechanic to attach sockets and hold bolts and nuts while working on a project. Other attachments and uses will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the invention is not meant to be limited to the exemplary attachments.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. A hat comprising: a crown; a bill secured to the crown; and a plurality of magnets embedded in the bill across a width of the bill.
 2. A hat according to claim 1, wherein the bill comprises a base material covered with a fabric material, the base material including a plurality of holes therein that correspond in number and size to the plurality of magnets, wherein the magnets are positioned in the holes.
 3. A hat according to claim 2, wherein the fabric material covers the base material and the plurality of magnets.
 4. A hat according to claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of magnets is sewn in position through the fabric material.
 5. A hat according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of magnets are positioned in the bill adjacent the crown.
 6. A hat according to claim 1, wherein the magnets comprise ⅝ inch diameter neodymium magnets.
 7. A hat comprising: a crown; a bill secured to the crown and defining a border between the crown and the bill, the bill comprising a base material covered with a fabric material and including a plurality of holes in the base material across a width thereof adjacent the border; and a plurality of magnets positioned in the holes and embedded within the fabric material.
 8. A hat according to claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of magnets is sewn in position through the fabric material.
 9. A hat according to claim 7, wherein the magnets comprise ⅝ inch diameter neodymium magnets.
 10. A method of manufacturing a hat comprising: (a) assembling a crown; (b) securing a bill to the crown; and (c) embedding a plurality of magnets in the bill across a width of the bill.
 11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising assembling the bill using a base material and covering the base material with a fabric material, wherein step (c) is practiced prior to covering the base material by forming holes in the base material and positioning the magnets in the holes.
 12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the step of positioning the magnets in the holes is practiced by initially securing the magnets in the holes with an adhesive tape.
 13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the step of positioning the magnets in the holes is further practiced by, after securing the magnets in the holes with the adhesive tape, sewing the fabric material around each of the magnets.
 14. A method according to claim 11, wherein the step of forming holes in the base material comprises forming five holes in the base material. 